Caron Wheeler Beach of the War Goddess (EMI) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
While not exactly mellow new age fodder, Caron Wheeler’s second solo release since departing Soul II Soul isn’t as fierce as the title suggests, either. Roaming freely between gentle Caribbean rhythms and hard R & B-style beats, Wheeler examines love, race and feminism while drawing upon three decades of musical lore to support her case. “Father,” “Soul Street,” “Gotta Give It Up,” “Naughty Eyes” and a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Wind Cries Mary” all deserve a mention. While “Beach of the War Goddess” may lack some of the aggressive punch that defined the best work on her 1991 debut, it is nevertheless equal in terms of passion. It’s a tremendously ambitious project that consistently scores on several levels.
